Kevin Pietersen finds right tone in brilliant return to form in India

Kevin Pietersen did and said all the right things in one of his greatest innings for England in Mumbai

Kevin Pietersen was self-effacing in the press conference after his epic hundred for England against India. Photograph: Back Page Images / Rex Features Back Page Images / Rex Features/Back Page Images / Rex Features

After Kevin Pietersen's last brilliant century for England at Leeds against South Africa in August, he duly pitched up for the obligatory press conference, which caused a few ripples. They say that he left the room at Headingley with his ECB guide and reflected, "Well, I think that went pretty well, don't you?"

Subsequently opinion was divided about how successful that conference had been. Pietersen may have been upbeat; the rest of the planet thought otherwise and there were consequences.

This time in Mumbai it really did go rather well. Pietersen was quiet, co-operative and, well, self-effacing. He still attracted quite an audience, just in case. But it was a day when he let his bat do the talking. That is usually the best way.

The century, he assured us, "will mean more if we win". It was "satisfying". The "Chef", Alastair Cook, had been "magnificent". When Cook had reached his record-equalling 22nd hundred he said, "Come on, only five more for you" and joining his captain alongside Wally Hammond, Colin Cowdrey and Geoff Boycott was a "great feeling". Here was Pietersen the discreet.

Oddly there was evidence of discretion in his innings as well even though his 186 only occupied 233 balls. It was a brilliant knock, sprinkled with shots that only he can play, including four sixes, the most remarkable of which was smitten over extra cover from a standing position off Pragyan Ojha, who was meant to be his tormentor in this match.

But there was no show-boating after he had reached his hundred. If anything he was more wary after the landmark, mindful of making the most of this golden opportunity to square the series. However when Pietersen is wary his batting is still enthralling to watch. Even in discreet mode there is always another gob-smacking stroke around the corner.

For some there may have been an inevitability about Pietersen returning to the fold and hitting a century in this manner but not many of those wiseacres could have been at the first Test in Ahmedabad, where he batted as frenetically as a novice. But in Mumbai there was a delicious mixture of cricketing nous and outrageous flair.

Pietersen was candid about what went wrong in that first match. "I didn't trust my defence in Ahmedabad," he admitted. "So I tried too many things and to force the issue. Maybe in the preparation matches my defence wasn't tested enough. So I did a lot of work [in between matches] and it paid off."

It may be that the most satisfying shots for Pietersen – and the rest of the dressing room – were those forward defensives, his left foot a long way down the pitch, his head still, his bat declining to emulate a curtain rail. But there were more striking ones, often sweeps, some hit firmly, some dabbed fine, some of the reverse variety. But this time he bided his time before he played those shots. Like Cook he used them to his advantage.

"There have been successful sweepers in India," he said. "Our coach was one [he might have been referring to Andy Flower or Graham Gooch — it was not clear, but both are fine examples] and Matt Hayden. It messes around the bowlers' lengths and their fields as long as you play it well and not to your sixth or seventh ball when you can look like a clown." Note the self-effacing reference to his second-innings dismissal in Ahmedabad.

In the past there has been the suspicion that Pietersen can be at his most difficult after playing an innings that invites adulation. There is the memory of his astonishing innings at Headingley and the aftermath, as well as another for the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL after which the adulation among his Indian fans knew no bounds. This innings ranks alongside those knocks. The ball appeared to be turning dangerously when he arrived at the crease and after his departure but not so much while he was there.

In his immediate reaction at least Pietersen gave a good impression that his feet remained firmly on the ground. Inevitably there were veiled queries about the recent palaver. How was the mood in the camp after the "reintegration process", a phrase coined by the ECB?

"The dressing room is fantastic", said Pietersen. "We are sticking together well, helping each other, working hard and not letting anything get on top of us. We are very united and will be even more united if we pull off a victory tomorrow".